Travel case for transporting insulin

ABSTRACT

A travel case for transporting insulin is provided with an outer bottle with an outer bottle cap, an inner bottle with an inner bottle cap, fins, and a means to thermally insulate the outer bottle. The inner bottle is located within the outer bottle. The fins are attached to and protrude radially from the inner bottle, thus acting to keep the inner bottle centrally located within and relative to the outer bottle, as well as to keep the inner bottle in a substantially upright position within the outer bottle. The inner bottle is adapted to receive one or more bottles of insulin. In use, ice is added to the outer bottle between the fins, the ice acting as a heat sink to keep the insulin bottles cold within the inner bottle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

The present invention does not involve any form of federally sponsored research or development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a container for transporting medicines requiring cold storage, and more specifically to a container used to transport insulin. Containers utilizing heat sinks are well known in the art, but are generally adapted for industrial use and not suitable for individual consumers, or at least not convenient for consumers.

One species of insulating carrying devices contains heat sinks comprising material that must first be cooled. U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,998 to Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,581 to Galloway et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,684 to Guice are representative of this type of container. This requirement of cooling the heat sink is undesirable because most travelers do not have refrigeration means readily available to them during trips, thus making this type of device unsuitable for long trips.

Other carrying devices comprise cryogenic technology. This type of device is wholly inconvenient and generally unavailable to the average consumer.

Thus, an unfulfilled need exists for a means to transport insulin for the average traveler. The present invention addresses this need by providing a convenient and inexpensive device suitable for transporting insulin. The heat sink is common ice, a material readily available at gas stations, restaurants, and lodging facilities, and is therefore conveniently replenished as needed by an average traveler.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for transporting insulin and other medications requiring refrigeration. It is a further object of the invention to provide consumers an inexpensive and convenient means to keep medications cold during transport by providing a device whose heat sink can be replenished and recharged using means readily available to consumers at hotels and gas stations, namely ice machines and the like.

The invention comprises an outer bottle with an outer bottle cap, an inner bottle with an inner bottle cap, an inner cup, fins, and a means to thermally insulate the outer bottle.

The outer bottle has a bottom and a side wall, and an open top. An outer bottle cap is provided. The outer bottle cap is adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle so as to make the outer bottle water tight.

The inner bottle has a bottom and a side wall, and an open top. The inner bottle is contained within the outer bottle. An inner bottle cap is provided. The inner bottle cap is adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight.

The inner cup is contained within the outer bottle. The inner cup comprises a bottom and a side wall and has an open top. The inner cup is adapted to receive the inner bottle.

The fins can be attached to and protruding radially from the side wall of the inner cup. The fins should be of such a width, width being defined as the distance from the inner cup side wall extending radially toward the outer bottle side wall, as to provide support to the inner cup by limiting the movement of the inner cup within the outer bottle. Alternatively, the fins can be attached to the side wall of the outer bottle. In this case, the fins protrude inwardly toward the side wall of the inner cup in a radial pattern. The fins act to keep the inner cup centrally located within and relative to the outer bottle, as well as to keep the inner cup in a substantially upright position within the outer bottle. In use, the inner cup holds the inner bottle. Because the fins act to keep the inner cup centrally located within and relative to the outer bottle, as well as to keep the inner cup in a substantially upright position within the outer bottle, the inner bottle is likewise kept in a substantially upright and centrally located position within the outer bottle.

The means to insulate the outer bottle can be a distinct structure such as a thermally insulated soft or hard sided cooler adapted to receive and contain the outer bottle. The means to insulate the outer bottle can also be integral to the structure of the outer bottle itself wherein the bottom and side wall of the outer bottle are constructed of two layers with a gap in between the layers. The gap can contain air or some other suitable thermal insulating material. These materials are well known in the art of thermal insulation, and can comprise liquids, gases, polymeric foam material, natural fiber, and gelatinous heat sink type materials. The gap can also be a vacuum, making the outer bottle a type of vacuum bottle.

In use, a user adds ice to the outer bottle, filling with ice spaces defined by the fins, the outer bottle bottom, and the outer bottle side wall. The user places at least one bottle of insulin within the inner bottle and secures the inner bottle cap. The user then secures the outer bottle cap. If the means to insulate the outer bottle is a distinct structure, such as a soft sided cooler, the user places the outer bottle into the means to insulate. The ice functions as a heat sink, and maintains a constant temperature within the device during the gradual phase change of ice into liquid water. A bottle of insulin placed within the inner bottle would then be kept cold during the course of the phase change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the outer bottle and cap.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the outer bottle and contents, viewed from the top down.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the lid, outer bottle, and contents.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section showing one possible embodiment of the device showing that the outer bottle may comprise an insulating layer.

FIG. 5 is an exterior view of the device as a whole, showing the outer bottle nestled within an outer insulating means.

FIG. 6 is a cross section of the device, including the outer insulating means, outer bottle, and contents of the outer bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

This invention is directed to a travel case for transporting insulin. The device 10 comprises an outer bottle 20 with an outer bottle cap 25, an inner bottle with an inner bottle cap 35, an inner cup 30, fins 40, and a means to thermally insulate the outer bottle 50.

The outer bottle 20 has a bottom 21 and a side wall 22, and an open top. An outer bottle cap 25 is provided. The outer bottle cap 25 is adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle 20 so as to make the outer bottle water tight.

The inner bottle has a bottom 31 and a side wall 32, and an open top. The inner bottle is contained within the outer bottle 20. An inner bottle cap 35 is provided. The inner bottle cap 35 is adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight.

The inner cup 30 is contained within the outer bottle 20. The inner cup 30 comprises a bottom and a side wall and has an open top. The inner cup is adapted to receive the inner bottle.

The fins 40 are attached to and protruding radially from the side wall 32 of the inner cup 30. The fins 40 should be of such a width, width being defined as the distance from the inner cup side wall 32 extending radially toward the outer bottle side wall 22, as to provide support to the inner cup 30 by limiting the movement of the inner cup within the outer bottle 20. The fins 40 act to keep the inner cup 30 centrally located within and relative to the outer bottle 20, as well as to keep the inner cup in a substantially upright position within the outer bottle. Alternatively, the fins 40 can be attached to and protruding inward from the side wall 22 of the outer bottle 20 toward the inner cup 30.

The means to insulate 50 the outer bottle 20 can be a distinct structure such as a thermally insulated soft or hard sided cooler 53 adapted to receive and contain the outer bottle 20. The means to insulate 50 the outer bottle 20 can also be integral to the structure of the outer bottle wherein the bottom 21 and side wall 22 of the outer bottle are constructed of two layers with a gap 54 between the layers. The gap 54 can contain air or some other suitable thermal insulating material. These materials are well known in the art of thermal insulation, and can comprise liquids, gases, polymeric foam material, natural fiber, and gelatinous heat sink type materials. The gap 54 can also be a vacuum, making the outer bottle a type of vacuum bottle.

In use, a user adds ice 60 to the outer bottle 20, filling with ice spaces defined by the fins 40, the outer bottle bottom 21, and the outer bottle side wall 22. The user places at least one bottle of insulin within the inner bottle 30 and secures the inner bottle cap 35. The user then secures the outer bottle cap 25. If the means to insulate 50 the outer bottle 20 is a distinct structure, such as a soft sided cooler 53, the user places the outer bottle 20 into the means to insulate 50, 53. The ice 60 functions as a heat sink, and maintains a constant temperature within the device 10 during the gradual phase change of ice into liquid water. A bottle of insulin placed within the inner bottle 30 would then be kept cold during the course of the phase change. 

1. A travel case for transporting insulin comprising: an outer bottle, the outer bottle having a bottom and a side wall, the outer bottle having an open top; an outer bottle cap, the outer bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle so as to make the outer bottle water tight; an inner bottle, the inner bottle removably contained within the outer bottle, the inner bottle comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner bottle having an open top; an inner bottle cap, the inner bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight; an inner cup, the inner cup contained within the outer bottle, the inner cup comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner cup having an open top, the inner cup being adapted to receive the inner bottle; fins, the fins being attached to and protruding radially from the side wall of the inner cup; a means to insulate the outer bottle.
 2. A travel case for transporting insulin comprising: an outer bottle, the outer bottle having a bottom and a side wall, the outer bottle having an open top, the bottom and side wall of the outer bottle being constructed of two layers with a gap between the layers; an outer bottle cap, the outer bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle so as to make the outer bottle water tight; an inner bottle, the inner bottle removably contained within the outer bottle, the inner bottle comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner bottle having an open top; an inner bottle cap, the inner bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight; an inner cup, the inner cup contained within the outer bottle, the inner cup comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner cup having an open top, the inner cup being adapted to receive the inner bottle; fins, the fins being attached to and protruding radially from the side wall of the inner cup.
 3. A travel case for transporting insulin comprising: an outer bottle, the outer bottle having a bottom and a side wall, the outer bottle having an open top; an outer bottle cap, the outer bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle so as to make the outer bottle water tight; an inner bottle, the inner bottle removably contained within the outer bottle, the inner bottle comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner bottle having an open top; an inner bottle cap, the inner bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight; an inner cup, the inner cup contained within the outer bottle, the inner cup comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner cup having an open top, the inner cup being adapted to receive the inner bottle; fins, the fins being attached to and protruding inwardly in a radial pattern from the side wall of the outer bottle; a means to insulate the outer bottle.
 4. A travel case for transporting insulin comprising: an outer bottle, the outer bottle having a bottom and a side wall, the outer bottle having an open top, the bottom and side wall of the outer bottle being constructed of two layers with a gap between the layers; an outer bottle cap, the outer bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the outer bottle so as to make the outer bottle water tight; an inner bottle, the inner bottle removably contained within the outer bottle, the inner bottle comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner bottle having an open top; an inner bottle cap, the inner bottle cap being adapted to close and temporarily seal the top of the inner bottle so as to make the inner bottle water tight; an inner cup, the inner cup contained within the outer bottle, the inner cup comprising a bottom and a side wall, the inner cup having an open top, the inner cup being adapted to receive the inner bottle; fins, the fins being attached to and protruding inwardly in a radial pattern from the side wall of the outer bottle.
 5. A device as in claims 1 or 3 wherein the means to insulate the outer bottle comprises a soft-sided cooler.
 6. A device as in claims 1 or 3 wherein the means to insulate the outer bottle comprises a hard-sided cooler.
 7. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is filled with a gas.
 8. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is a vacuum.
 9. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is filled with polymeric foam.
 10. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is filled with gelatinous material.
 11. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is filled with liquid.
 12. A device as in claims 2 or 4 wherein the gap between the layers of the bottom and the side wall of the outer bottle is filled with fibrous material. 